Cefaclor, Cefuroxime axetil, Cefpodoxime, Cefprozil

All listed products are considered to have therapeutic equivalence.

Only one product is stocked by the hospital.

Guidelines for Use

Indications for Use:

1. Alternative to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (Augmentinâ)

1. Documented Type I anaphylactic reaction to penicillins.

2. Infection with culture-proven suspectible organisms

1. Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, and S. pyogenes (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci).

2. Upper respiratory tract infections, including pharyngitis and tonsillitis caused by S. pyogenes.

3. Otitis media caused by S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, staphylococci and S. pyogenes.

4. Skin and skin structure infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and S. pyogenes .

5. Urinary tract infections including pyelonephritis and cystitis caused by Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella species and coagulase- negative staphylococci.

2. Alternative to other more suitable and inexpensive agents such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole if conditions 1a and 1b are met.

3. Completion of therapy after 24-48 hours of parenteral second generation cephalosporin antimicrobial.

Dose: Cefaclor: 250 mg - 500 mg THREE times a day on EMPTY stomach.

Cefuroxime axetil: 250 mg - 500 mg every 12 hrs. on FULL stomach.

Cefpodoxime: 100 mg - 200 mg every 12 hours

Cefprozil: 250 mg - 500 mg every 12 hours

Adverse Reaction: Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, serum-sickness